The Cowboys

Jack Stanley:

Poor Tyrel, Jack had always thought he didn't know how to cope with the town's mothers. Sure, he had his ranch to retreat to, but they'd always know where to find him. I, on the other hand, have the notable advantage of being able to disappear for months at a time.

Before he'd left, he had, like Tyrel, been inundated with requests for 'dinner'. However, his apparent wanderlust, lack of any real money, and the fact that he didn't own a ranch meant that he wasn't as marriageable as Tyrel. That suited him just fine, he wasn't of a mind to be tied down to anywhere just yet.

"You should try being out of town a little more often, Ty." He said, browsing the general store's shelves. He wasn't entirely sure of what he needed, except the bullets. He was surprised that people hadn't yet noticed that he was stocking up on ammunition every time he returned to town.

"What, like you?"

Jack turned around, a broad grin on his face, "Yeah, like me! Think of it, a life of adventure, searching the West for fame and fortune, just like we're supposed to be." He gave Tyrel a pointed look, "Not lounging around a ranch with nothing to do." He laughed, turned back to the shelves and checking a small box filled with bullets, "I mean, if that's all you intend to do, maybe you'd be better off settling down!" That'll get him for sure.

"I'm quiet busy most of the time, thank you very much." he replied. "There are always things to do at the ranch. I'm not giving it up either. I worked hard for that ranch and i"m not about to abandon it."

"I didn't say abandon it. Just take a drip to drop off cattle somewhere, or go get more or something. Just get away from town." Jake replied.

"I've seen some of the rustlers around here. I'm not leaving the ranch for that long. It's not safe with how rustlers are moving in. After the war everyone started coming and taking everyone else's stuff. I"m not going to let that happen to my stuff. I worked way to hard."

*can someone please start a conversation with Georgia?*

Jack let out a low whistle as he stepped over to the counter, pushing across the necessary amount of dollar bills to purchase his bullets. "Rustlers, huh? Yeah, I guess that makes sense. A whole lot of veterans have taken to that line of work since the end of the war, so I suppose it's reasonable for you to want to stay on your ranch as much as possible. Still, I reckon you need a little more excitement in your life than that."

He pocketed the box, then turned around, seeming to have an idea, "Say, seeing as you'll probably be having some trouble with rustlers soon, mind taking me on as a farmhand for a week or two?" He grinned, "I'm short of cash, y'see, and I'm here looking for some work. So, if you wouldn't mind taking on an old friend..."

Jack made a mental note not to tell everything he'd been doing over the past months, especially the fact that he was wanted in the next state over.

The small bell above the door rang as it swung open again. The man behind the counter looked up, bemused, "Hm. Busier day than usual."

Jack and Tyrel turned to regard the newcomer. A shorter girl was standing in the doorway, pretty, with long red hair and blue eyes. She looked somewhat out of place in the Western town, Jack guessed she'd come from the East Coast. He raised an eyebrow and looked to Tyrel, "You didn't tell me we had new visitors in town."

Georgia Lawson

I walked inside of the store and felt a bit awkward because there were some young men at the counter staring at me. My cheeks went hot but I knew what I was here for.

"Um... S'cuse me, gentle men" I said, approaching them and trying to sound as sweet as I could...

*sorry for shortness but I'm not sure what to say*

Adriane

I reined Ciraco in at a tie up post, outside a General Store. Sounded like a good place to stop. I was running low on ammunition and necessities. I had every intention to keep going, to not get involved...

I pat the beautiful stallion on the neck, leaving him to rest. I stepped onto the wooden walkway, the heels of my boots thudding mildly. I barely regarded the dolled-up redhead; I didn't care for that sort. All frills and ribbons and vanity... No, I prefered jeans and simple, rugged shirts with a cowboy hat over my unkempt hair that I always somehow managed to put into a bun inside the hat.

I entered the shop, nodding to the two men standing next to the ammo and guns. Of course. I turned the gesture on the shop keeper, then went on my way. I brushed past the girl, putting my hand carefully on her shoulder to keep from knocking her over. "S'cuse me," I muttered stoicly, making my way to the counter. Now, where were those bullets? 30-30 Winchester, 150 grain... 30-30 Winchester, 150 grain...

Georgia Lawson

I didn't like having that person put his hand on my shoulder, even though he was considerably taller than me and probably in his eyes, I looked like a porcelin doll dressed all fancy-like.

"There was no need for you to touch me, sir" I said, trying to make my voice sound... tougher? I narrowed my eyes at him.

Adriane

I paused, freezing at that word. Sir? She thought I was a man? Wow, she had nerve! But I liked it. This girl could really make it out here, even if by guts alone.

I slowly turned around, looking at her with an amused smirk on my face. "Quite the contrary, little miss." I pulled my hat off then, letting my hair fall down. "I'm a woman."

Tyrel watched the last person come in. It was a girl, she didn't walk like a guy. And only a little boy had as small of hands as she did.

"If you still want that job, Jake, you got it. It'd be nice having you stick around for a little while." He grabbed his stack of bullets, coffee, sugar, and flour and waited until the other young lady was done at the counter.

"You skipping out on Mrs. Bells dinner?" Jake asked walking over behind him.

"Yes, I'll find a way to slip out of it if I have to. I really don't want to be stuck eating with her and her daughter again. Makes me almost regret coming back in to town today. She's can be pushy." He shrugged. "Pete Monroe has his eyes on Miss Bell, so I'm not going to let him start coming up with any stories."

Billy Cook

I looked through the iron sight at the lone rabbit sat on its haunches on top of the dune. It still had no knowledge of my presence behind this little bush - what a simple animal.
I slowly inhaled and held my breath as I took the shot. The rifle gave a crack that sounded like thunder and the rabbit slumped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. A perfect shot I thought as I slowly extricated myself from the bush and began to climb the dune to collect my dinner. Living in these wastelands was hard. I'd been travelling for days and there's only so long a man can go without some proper food in his belly.
I reached the top and bent down to pick up the rabbit. As I began to righten myself, rabbit in hand, I noticed what was hiding behind the dune. Stone the crows, it was a town! Finally!

I honestly couldn't believe my luck. I just stood there and gazed in awe at the small town before my eyes. At the wooden buildings (my eyes picking out the saloon almost instinctively) , at the grand square at the centre of the town, but most of all at the people. Real people. Not just mirages which I had conjured up to defeat my lonliness. Real, breathing, living, loving, working people.
Real people with real money to steal, with real food to...barter for. I never cared much for people when I was around 'em, but after a week on your own you really start to notice their absence.

I replaced my rifle in its case, slung the rabbit over my shoulder and started the descent into town.

Georgia Lawson

"Well, excuse me" I said and glared at the woman. Suppose I'll have to get use to woman dressing as men... I told myself and sighed.


Jude Lawson


I skipped into the store where I knew Georgia was to be and saw her talking to a woman dressed as a man. People turned around when they heard me come in and I knew what I must look like to them, a bony, sickly pale looking girl with white as down hair would probably fit in like a leper would before Jesus came a long... Shaking off the rejected feeling I skipped on over to Jude and once she saw me and scolded me.

"Jude, you were suppose to stay in the inn room! You know what could have happened to you?" she shouted at me.

Jack

He nodded sagely, "Point taken. I wouldn't think Monroe'd have the guts to take you on in public, not like some the real rockheads in this town, but you're right when you say he'd make up stories. When that kid gets his eye on something," Jack shook his head and let out a breath, "He will do anything to get it. Give him a few years, he'll be a real problem. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him." He leaned against the counter, his back to it, "But yeah, I'll take that job. Like I said, I need something to do, and you, my friend," He grinned, "Need someone to keep the rustlers away from your place."

Yet another girl traipsed into the store, this one dressed in the same frilly attire as the redhead who was now arguing with the other girl. The redhead started scolding the younger girl as soon as she entered, and seemed more than a little shocked by her sister's harsh words.

Tyrel cleared his throat, "There's not too much to be worried about, miss. This is still a pretty friendly town. The vultures haven't made it this far yet."

Jack nodded in agreement, "But if you're still worried about your..." He looked from one to the other, noting their similarities, "Sister, then you'd best keep her with you. That's much safer than leaving her in some hotel room."

Tyrel:

Tyrel turned back to Jake and shook his head.

"I ain't seen so many new girls in this town sense it started. That'll get all the mothers mixed up something aweful." He smiled.

"I rather not be in town when they try to claim the men up." Jake laughed.

"Me neither, but we might better warn these gals about it. Don't want them getting stuck with angery mothers after them and them no know about it." Tyrel replied with a smile.

**All I had. :'( **

Georgia Lawson

"I'm quite new to this town, and new to having to be motherly to my little sister" I told them all. "And you won't have to worry about me claiming any man so soon, I'm just looking for work" I said and noticed how they gave me an odd look.

"Well, miss. With the way your dressed and the fact that y'er about as tall y'er little sister here, you might wanna think twice before you say you don't wanna a man" said one of the men and I looked down to my feet.

"Sir, despite my small size you'd be quite surprised at how much I can do. And the way I'm dressed has nothing to do with what I can and can not do, where I was born we were raised to dress as nicely as possible, I apoligize if you weren't".


Jude Lawson

Georgia was standing up for herself, something she'd done a lot over the last few months. It was funny to see the look on the men and woman's faces as the tiny young woman whom they all had to look staight down at was talking to them in such manor.

Tyrel:

Tyrel listened to her talk to one of the other men in the store. He rubbed his jaw and then crossed his arms.

"You need a job?" He asked.

"Yes, why?" She asked.

"You probably won't be able to find one around town. If you want somewhere for you adn your sister to stay and work. My sister doesn't have anyone to talk to most of the time and cooking for the hands takes up alot of time. IF you want you can come stay out there with her if you'll help her cook." He leaned against the counter waiting to see waht she would say.




***If she accepts I'll make a profile for his sister***